From Shared Stress to Shared Strength: A Theoretical Model of Dyadic Coping in Couples Facing Depression and Anxiety

Maedeh Khodaei; Atefe Shirali; Fatemeh Jabari

doi:10.63053/ijhes.140

Authors

Maedeh Khodaei MSc in Psychology, Islamic Azad University, Varamin-Pishva Branch, Tehran, Iran.
Atefe Shirali MSc in Psychology, Payame Noor University, Shiraz Center, Shiraz, Iran
Fatemeh Jabari MSc in Psychology, Takestan Non-Profit University, Qazvin Province, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63053/ijhes.140

Keywords:

Dyadic coping; depression; anxiety; couple therapy; emotion regulation; systemic theory; resilience; relational psychopathology

Abstract

Depression and anxiety are among the most common psychological disorders worldwide, often occurring within the context of close relationships. While significant progress has been made in understanding their intrapersonal dynamics, less attention has been paid to how these disorders manifest and are managed within romantic dyads. This conceptual paper proposes the Dyadic Spiral of Vulnerability and Resilience (DSVR)—a theoretical model that integrates clinical symptomatology with systemic and interpersonal coping processes. The model delineates two potential trajectories couples may follow when confronted with psychological distress: a spiral of vulnerability characterized by misattunement and symptom escalation, and a spiral of resilience shaped by emotional co-regulation, shared meaning-making, and dyadic agency. By situating emotional suffering within a relational framework, the DSVR model advances current theory in couple therapy and health psychology. Implications for clinical intervention, empirical research, and relational education are discussed, highlighting the transformative potential of connection in the face of shared stress.

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